The crtc has approved the renewal of all 31 cbc licences until Aug. 31, 2007. In response, cbc president and ceo Robert Rabinovitch says the new conditions of licence are fiscally irresponsible and an unacceptable intrusion into the Corp.’s managerial and programming independence.

‘I am deeply concerned at the crtc’s apparent lack of consideration of the financial impact. The new conditions imposed today will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to implement and will limit my ability to undertake the reengineering, move towards decommercialization and a basic review of our operations,’ said Rabinovitch in a statement just after the news was announced on Jan. 6.

In Rabinovitch’s public estimation, the new conditions will cost the cbc at least $50 million in advertising revenue, a potentially tragic blow given that its budget over the past five years has been slashed to $750 million from $1 billion.

Following are some of the highlights of the decision:

* In order to strengthen its regional representation, the cbc must broadcast, in peak time, 13 original and 13 repeat half-hours of regional non-news programming in each of its nine regions each year. Beginning in the fourth year of the licence term, the number is increased to 26.

* In order to further broaden the pubcaster’s scope, in each of the first two years of the licence term, cbc must broadcast a minimum of five hours per week of priority programming, which has been shot more than 150 kilometres outside of Toronto.

* The cbc must decrease professional sports programming by 120 hours per year by the end of the licence term, and increase amateur sports programming by 60 hours per year, starting the first year of the licence term.

* Starting in three years, recently released non-Canadian blockbusters must be broadcast outside of primetime (7 p.m. to 11 p.m.).

* The cbc is encouraged to maintain its commitment to airing at least 50% of programming (other than news, current affairs and sports) from independent producers.

* In each new year of the new term, the cbc must broadcast a minimum of 15 hours per week of children’s programming (directed at ages two to 11) and a minimum of five hours per week of youth programming (directed at ages 12 to 17).

* The cbc must broadcast a minimum of 24 presentations per year of performances by a Canadian performing arts company, 12 of which must be broadcast in peak hours.

* The cbc is expected to fulfill its commitment to broadcast a minimum of 40 hours per year of coprods and exchanges between English- and French-language services.

* Newsworld’s maximum monthly wholesale rate per sub in anglophone markets will increase from $0.55 to $0.63 when distributed as part of the basic service, effective Sept. 1. Likewise, rdi’s rate will increase from $0.90 to $1.

Radio-Canada

On the French-language side, Radio-Canada vp Television Michele Fortin has declined all interviews on the licence renewal conditions, leaving that entirely to corporate headquarters and Rabinovitch.

A spokesperson for the French network says the decision’s financial impact is the primary concern, but that calculation is yet to be fully determined.

Among the decision highlights:

* src’s French-language tv network should increase the presence of francophone communities outside Quebec in all types of programming.

* src should provide as wide a range of programming as possible, particularly in culture, with an emphasis on music and dance, variety and performing arts. The crtc has stipulated five hours a week in primetime.

The network must offer more original programming for children and youth.

The crtc says src’s youth and children’s service should revive its ‘pioneer’ role of past years, but makes no reference to many rounds of drastic budget cuts. ‘Because there are fewer programs available for young Francophones, the French-language network should broadcast an average of at least four hours per week of original programming (other than movies or cartoons) aimed at children under 12,’ the crtc says.

Both English and French networks are targeted in terms of ‘non-Canadian blockbuster movies,’ which the commission says ‘will be broadcast outside of primetime’ after a three-year transition period.

‘After that time, it [cbc/src] will no longer be able to do so unless the movie was released in theatres at least two years previously, and has not been listed in the top 100 of Variety magazine’s top-grossing films for at least 10 years. Moreover, the programming schedules of Radio-Canada and the cbc should continue to include not only Canadian movies, but also the best productions from as many countries as possible.’

During the hearings, src committed $20 million over five years to Quebec feature films, although producers are already complaining src is not making equity investments in less commercial titles.

The crtc also encouraged src to hold to its promise of its longstanding 50% quota for indie-produced programs (other than news, current affairs and sports) in primetime.

Reseau de l’Information has been authorized to increase its subscriber rate 10 cents to $1, effective Sept. 1, 2000.

The crtc says the added revenues for Newsworld and rdi will allow the services to air better documentaries, on both regional and international subjects.

The commission wants the all-news services to increase shared programming by working ‘together on new projects and to increase the number of episodes of the coproduction Culture Shock. They [Newsworld/rdi] will also create a network of video journalists to serve new sectors in the Atlantic provinces, southern Ontario, northern Manitoba, the interior of British Columbia, and the Far North.’